Researchers administered a survey to physicians asking if they themselves would enroll in a hospice if diagnosed with cancer. The survey also asked physicians when they would introduce hospice as an option for terminally ill patients.
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The results show 64.5 percent of physicians said they strongly agreed that they would enroll in hospice if terminally ill. About 26 percent of physicians said they would discuss hospice with a patient immediately if the patient has four to six months left to live, and about 49 percent said they would discuss hospice only if there were no more treatments left to offer.
The survey shows about 30 percent of physicians who would enroll in hospice themselves would discuss hospice immediately with patients, while only 20 percent of physicians who do not have a strong personal preference for hospice treatments would discuss hospice immediately with patients.
The report also shows women, primary care physicians and physicians caring for terminally ill patients were more likely to say they would enroll in hospice. Surgeons and radiation oncologists were less likely to enroll.
Researchers suggest physicians look at their personal preferences when deciding to discuss hospice with terminally ill patients. They also suggest physicians with a negative view of hospice learn more about how hospice care could help their patients.
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